University of Virginia Library


67

BEFORE DAWN.

[_]

(A Fragment.)

No sun with her; but, far below
Her rising bosom's ebb and flow,
Rocked on her heart's first whisperings,
Couches the babe with folded wings;
Dreaming, yet half awake, he lies,
And starts and trembles in her eyes.
Virgin of any mortal stain,
Untouched by passion or by pain;
Not yet, O young delicious morning,
Have Love's rays overshot the dawning;
But cool light airs of childhood play
About the breaking of thy day.